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Brian Williams

Legendary Sports Broadcaster, Winner of Two Geminis

Named to the Order of Canada in December 2011 for both his distinguished broadcasting career of more than 40 years and extensive community and volunteer work across the country, Brian Williams anchored CTV's primetime Olympic coverage of both the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, playing a leading role in shaping and delivering the network's award-winning coverage. Williams was recently awarded the first-ever Canadian Screen Award for Best Sports Host or Analyst in a Sports Program or Sportscast for his work on London 2012.

In addition to his work on the Olympics Games, Williams is heavily involved in the CFL on TSN broadcasts. He also hosts CTV and TSN's figure skating coverage, sharing with fans his vast figure skating knowledge from some of the sport's biggest events.

Considered the dean of Olympic sports broadcasting in Canada, Williams reported on his first Olympic Games at the 1976 Summer Games from Montreal and has covered a total of 14 Olympic Games, as well as every high-profile sporting event around the globe. His resume includes work with the NHL, Major League Baseball, PGA TOUR, Canadian and World Figure Skating Championships, World Cup Skiing, men's and women's Rogers Cup events in Toronto and Montreal, Formula One, IRL, Breeders' Cup, Pan Am Games and Commonwealth Games.

Williams' respected broadcast style has endeared him to millions of Canadians from coast-to-coast. He has won praise from critics and numerous accolades, including eight Gemini Awards, two Foster Hewitt Awards, and one Canadian Screen Award. In addition, Williams was awarded his second Outstanding Sports Broadcasting Award from Sports Media Canada for his work on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Williams was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame Football Reporters Wing in honour of his contributions to the CFL over the years. Additionally, at the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto in 2012, Williams was recognized with the Commissioner's Award for his contributions to the game for the past 40+ years.

Williams is currently on the Governors Council at North York General Hospital in Toronto and is a former member of the hospital's Board of Directors. He is a lifetime member of the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities and member of the Board of Directors of the Tim Horton Children's Foundation. Williams works with Special Olympics Canada and is a former member of the selection committee for Canada's Sports Hall of Fame located in Calgary. In 2006, Williams received an honourary Doctor of Humane Letters when he delivered the commencement address at his alma matter, Aquinas College, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2011, he also received an honourary doctorate from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, and delivered the commencement address to its graduating class.

Born in Winnipeg, Williams began calling university basketball play-by-play in 1967. He started his professional career in radio with Toronto's CHUM. After a year at CFRB Radio in Toronto, Williams joined CBLT and remained with CBC until his move to CTV and TSN in June, 2006.